Israel Lebanon's army: First phase of Hezbollah disarmament completed
The Lebanese army says it has achieved "the objectives of the first phase" of its disarmament plan for southern Lebanon. The plan to regain the state's monopoly on the use of force is thus at an advanced stage, the army said in a statement.
08.01.2026, 11:23
08.01.2026, 11:48
SDA
According to Hezbollah circles, the organization no longer has a military presence south of the Litani River, around 30 kilometers from the Israeli border.
Israel praises efforts - but does not consider them sufficient
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the efforts of the Lebanese government and army "an encouraging start". "However, they are far from sufficient, as evidenced by Hezbollah's attempts to rearm and rebuild its terror infrastructure with Iranian support," it continued in a statement.
As part of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which has been in place since the end of November 2024, the Iranian-backed Shia militia was also to be disarmed. The Lebanese government tasked the army with the disarmament. It is to take place in five phases.
The deadline for the completion of the first phase was actually December 31. It provides for the complete clearance of the region south of the Litani River from military structures of the Shiite organization. The further roadmap provides for the disarmament to be extended to areas north of the Litani River, the capital Beirut and the Bekaa Plain.
President: Decision on war and peace lies with the state
Israel accuses Hezbollah of reorganizing and rearming itself contrary to the agreement. The military therefore continues to attack the neighboring country on an almost daily basis. According to government figures, more than 300 people have been killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire came into force. According to the UN, more than 100 of these were civilians.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed his full support for the army's plan. The deployment of the Lebanese armed forces south of the Litani River was based on a "comprehensive national decision", he emphasized in a statement. This decision was aimed at consolidating the state's monopoly on the use of force. The decision on war and peace should be the sole responsibility of state institutions.
